[NeilCharter]

I've checked the forums for similar posts, but nothing seems to match exactly.

Here's what happens: I'm jogging with my 3G ipod straped to a belt using the standard holder. Every so often, the ipod stops playing. I take it out of the holder and typically the ipod starts going through next set of songs without playing them. After a few of these, it will stop and start playing the selected song.

I switched the hold button on, and the problem still occurs.

This happens a lot and is very annoying and chews up the battery life. I sent the pod back to Apple - they returned it saying nothing was wrong.

Anyone else have the same problem?

Neil

[Rainy Day]

Jogging is hard on both human joints and spinning hard drives of the iPod. You might want to consider this valuable biofeedback on how to reduce the impact of your stride so it's less jarring, or a subtle hint from god to take up a lower impact aerobic sport, like bicycling or race walking. Just my 2¢ worth.

[milhous]

But the iPod's hard drive isn't spinning at all times--only when it has to update the memory cache.

NeilCharter - If you're not seeing similar issues brought up in these forums you're going to, keep working with Apple until it is resolved to your satisfaction. It could very well be some other reason like a flakey circuitboard that may not necessarily show up in a diganostic check, but more go towards the QA aspects of the device.

Bottom line- iPods are perfectly fine for jogging. If they weren't they wouldn't advertise it the iPod for such use.

I have the original scroll wheel 5gb iPod, so I'm not really sure how that solid state scroll wheel works in relation to the function buttons or the hold function. But I figure it should be no different--when locked you can't use any of the controls.

Now, if you're wearing the iPod remote while you're jogging, have you made sure that you've also locked the remote as well?

[NeilCharter]

milhous - I agree with your points wholeheartedly. There's something definitely flaky with the innards of the ipod. I don't use the remote so that's not a problem.

One other thing I forgot to mention - usually after a run, when the pod in docked, it starts checking the harddrive (ie a symbol appears with a harddrive icon and a magnifying glass)

Thanks for your input

Neil

[Dan D.]

I have had similar problems with my 3G 30Gb iPod while jogging. Mine will either skip erratically through songs, or stop playing all together and completely lock up, forcing me to reset it.

Unfortunately, not only was my local Apple Store totally unable to help me, but they insisted this was normal behavior. The problem they claim is that the buffer runs out of music causing the iPod to either shut down or skip as you describe. They also claim that the iPod is specifically not recommended for jogging and says as much on the website, a fact I have not verified.

This left me fairly infuriated with my Apple Store and very disappointed bout the usefulness of my $500 investment. I can see that their explanation would seem to make sense, and I have always been suspect of the HD-based system for something high-impact like jogging. The iPod works fine for me in all other applications such as walking to work, etc. Still, they do market the device for active people, even if there is now some warning somewhere about jogging. I haven't pushed the issue with Apple much harder, mostly because I've been rather busy lately, but partly because I feel they are going to give me the same info.

I've had my best luck jogging with the unit using the Marware SportSuit Convertible case with the arm band. The people at the Apple Store agreed that arm bands shield the iPod from jarring movement much better than wearing it on your waist. I find it fairly comfortable. I'm going to see if I can reduce my arm motion in any way to help jostle the iPod less and see if that helps, but I have serious reservations about changing my jogging style to suit this thing.

[GORDYmac]

I never had a skipping problem, but the volume would change on my iPog while jogging. I learned that the scroll wheel was the culprit (1G, 5GB). So, I turn on the iPod's hold swicth, and use the remote while jogging. Problem solved.

[Dan D.]

My wife also has a 1G 5Gb iPod and she's never had a problem jogging with it. The 1Gs may be less sensitive to this than the 3Gs. I suspect jogging style would also have a lot to do with it.

[Brian McHale]

I did a search on the Apple website and came up with two links that have some good data in them:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93318
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61018

There were a few good points, one of them being that your iPod will skip less if your songs are smaller because more of them can fit into the cache.

I don't believe there was any suggestion to not jog while using an iPod.

I used to be a runner (before the doctors told me my ankle couldn't handle it anymore). There is a big difference from runner to runner in how much pounding their body takes while they jog/run. Since I was running competitively (as opposed to just trying to burn calories or stay in shape), I spent a lot of time and effort learning to run efficiently. After all, why waste energy going up and down when you're trying to cover a certain distance in the shortest time possible? A lot of recreational joggers don't worry about this, but it would be better for your knees, back, hips and iPod to develop a less bouncy running style.

Good luck.

[NeilCharter]

Thanks for all your comments.

I don't quite understand how skipping occurs and how the cache is involved.

For me, it's like the forward button is constantly being pushed. When I take it out of the holder, I see the pod moving from one song to the next until it finally stops.

Is this because the cache is screwed up or some loose connection inside?

I don't think I bounce too much when running. I was going to buy a cover for the pod just incase the holder was randomly activating the buttons. But since the hold button didn't solve the problem, it doesn't seem like that is the issue.

I could try an arm strap - seems a bit uncomfortable to me.

Neil

[wuzup101]

This really shouldn't be happening. The best quick fix I can think of would be to get an arm band for the iPod. Your arms still move obviously; however, it would subject the iPod to less of the little vibrations it feels on your belt while jogging.

I can tell you that where I go to school there is a ton of kids that have iPods for the gym. I would say atleast half of the students that use our facility (a huge 6+ million dollar facility that supports 1000s of people per day) own iPods. I have never once heard about any skipping problems. I was looking into buying one early last year (didn't yet) so I did actually ask a lot of people about what they though of them... never a complaint about skipping.... ever...

Just something to think about...